WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., on Wednesday called on the Justice Department to ferret out any criminal wrongdoing at VA health facilities connected with delays in providing care to veterans.

In a letter sent to Attorney General Eric Holder, Boozman and other Republicans on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee urged him to work with the inspector general of the VA to investigate allegations of widespread misconduct.

“We must hold responsible parties accountable for any criminal wrongdoings, rid our entire system of bad actors and move forward as a country able to honor our commitment and provide the best, timely health care for all veterans,” they wrote.

The Senate Appropriations Committee last week included additional funding for the Department of Justice to conduct an investigation.

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., who proposed the increase, said it would ensure DOJ has the necessary resources “to conduct criminal and civil investigations into the troubling allegations that the VA falsified patient records.”

Boozman and Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., serve on the committee and supported the measure.

The Department of Veterans Affairs released an audit on Monday showing that more than 57,000 veterans are facing a wait of three months or more for care at VA hospitals and clinics across the country. The VA initiated the audit in the wake of allegations that schedulers in Phoenix and other medical centers manipulated patient scheduling to mask long waits for appointments.

Boozman, who underwent emergency heart surgery in April, returned to the Senate this week. In an interview Monday he said his top priority would be to ensure that VA hospitals and clinics are providing timely care.